• “I pray tell that a war has come upon our land.” My father spoke and the fork that held the piece of meat that I was to eat was suspended in mid-air as shock and realization dawned upon me.

    As quickly as the information had sunk in, my gray gaze went to my fiancé.

    He smiled at my attention and I frowned at how he reacted at the news and prompted to speak, “You knew about it, didn’t you?” His smile faltered and a sigh escape the pale line of his lips.

    “Yes, I wanted to keep it from you but it seemed to be inevitable.”

    Silence rained upon us with the tension heavily hanging upon it. My father had seemed to speak of the ill news which my fiancé had prompted to hide from me. The error of his speech had him holding his tongue.

    I let an exasperated sigh.

    Truly, men silence themselves when they speak of wrongs. “Do continue father.”

    My father, the infamous Duke Vincent Flueret de Lavent was a war veteran and had participated in the various wars that had presented themselves in the past. The older man looked at the younger one; Damien nodded for the Duke to continue. With the affirmation of my command, my father cleared his throat to continue.

    “It seems that we are against something more bizarre than the past wars that we have encountered.” Damien arched one elegant midnight black brow at the statement. With the silence, my father continued, “It seems we’re not fighting those blasted wolves this time, rather we’re fighting another race that might as well rival us.”

    Confusion ran through my thoughts. Another race that could rival us?

    For those past years, we have always been fighting the werewolves for territories and the usual belief that we two races are always mortal enemies. Yet, it seemed so shocking that another race would rage a war against us. It can possibly be the humans but what would lead such a weak race to wage a war against us when it is clearly us who will win in the battle.

    I raised my head, curiosity bubbling within me. “What are we up against, father?”

    He narrowed his eyes but not out of contempt but it seemed he was reluctant to tell me of what we were fighting against. “Some things are best left untold, Tatiana. I believe that I have told you the most of it Damien, I shall be off. Matters are to be done even if I am at this age.”
    A chuckle was heard from my fiancé and my father left the table.

    We both finished our meal and proceeded to the gardens, to enjoy the little time spent for our privacy. The white roses that he always tended for me bloomed gloriously under the sheen of moonlight. We sat upon the oak bench that stood at a corner.

    “Let’s not keep secrets between us, Damien.” I spoke and he let a sad smile flit to his lips, “I’m sorry but I didn’t want to shock you. What with our marriage which will be happening soon. I just-“

    I silence him with a finger upon his lips, “Our marriage will be moved yet again and you’ll be in that war. And who knows what might happen!? You could get-“ This time it was he who silenced me with the aid of his lips.

    “Stop such nonsense, our marriage will be soon. I have confirmed it with your father, it shall be moved to this Wednesday. Does that day displease you?” I smiled and leaned my body into his, letting my arms embrace him, “The sooner the better it is for me.”

    “Good.” I could almost hear his smile in his voice. “Don’t ever talk of such pessimism once again, my love. You’re my anchor for this war.”
    “I’m sorry. I won’t do such once again.”

    “Then I am relieved.”

    And the roses continued to glow under the moon’s luminous embrace.